Traditionally, the enterprise level strategy referred to 5 broad corporate strategies, but the new definition, limits strategy to social legitimacy. (Minztberg et.al, 1988) came up with a framework that is used to link strategic management and stakeholder classification theories. The framework points out general types of benefits for various stakeholders, and differs between firms using classical economic and firms employing non-profit strategy. Costco strategy identifies all stakeholders, but the company seems to neglect stockholders.

Costco’s Enterprise Level Strategy is accommodative and broad. The company’s mission is to provide customers with high quality products and services at low prices. Its vision is to deliver the finest quality, build a firm that will live for more than 5 decades, and treat every member of the society with respect. Costco employs utilitarian strategy, which maximizes benefits for all stakeholders. The company willingly abandons shareholders for other stakeholders. Costco values both social and economic factors. Its social stakeholders include governing agencies and local communities while the economic stakeholders include 67 million card holders, 37 senior executives, merchandise suppliers and partners for over 4000 products, 92 vice presidents and more than eight thousand stockholders. The firm’s governing agencies value Gross Domestic product, reduced energy problems, poverty reduction, public safety, minimizing greenhouse emissions, and job creation. These are the things that local communities value most. Costco adheres to ethical codes of vendors by implementing product safety measures. The company created a framework that aims at reducing greenhousegases. It uses more than 80% of recycled steel, roof designs that reduce heating, locally made brands, and other measures that promote conservation. Costco values innovations and adaptation to technology. In fact, Costco built a LEED certified building and redesigned its lighting systems, which aims at increasing time changes by more than 50 % (Hamel & Prahalad, 2005)

Organizational Culture TypeCostco ’philosophies, social, economic and ecological business activities indicates that the firm uses level 3 of corporate culture, which create maximum benefit, maximum value, as well as sustainability (Kaplan & Norton, 2008). The company recognizes rewards and maintains a central understanding of each stakeholder. The firm maintains its operating expenses at roughly 9% of sales. This is lower compared to Costco’s immediate competitor, Wal-Mart. Its advertising and price strategies aim at spending less. The company has a policy to retain employees even during recession, and it also pays social insurance for them.

Integrated Concepts from Readings, Evidence and Implications

(Stacey, 2011) suggests value is traditionally measured by economic performance and the benefits to the society. This is not in line with results from other studies, which points out that there is lack of consistent relationships between social responsibility and economic performance(Grgurich, 2011). In addition, empirical findings reveal that there is adequate matching between social performance and firms’ competencies, strategies and activities (Mezner et.al, 2012). Costco seems unique from other companies because it balances social benefits with maximizing profits. This implies that Costco value adding activities provide very high products and services by use of low cost model. This means that if a company can manage to operate at low cost, it will ever stand out of the crowd.

General Force Analysis: External – Remote Environment

General Force Matrix Analysis

Economics

Global e-commerce sales are projected to exceed $1 trillion in 2014. This presents an opportunity for Costco to improve its online presence. This will see Costco improve its performance by far.

Technology

Multi-channel retailing is gaining momentum in today’s economy. This opportunity is very important for Costco and other retailers across the world.

Demographics / social / culture

In 2014, global internet users are expected to grow to 4.5 billion users from 2.4 billion in 2013. According to the Internet World Stars, more than 80 percent of the U.S population and 84 % of the U.K population uses the internet. This is another opportunity for Costco ( Meznar, 2012).

Government / legal / military

Increase in healthcare costs and coverage for Costco’semployees are important. This will have a negative impact to the company’s profitability. However, the U.S has increased the minimum wage, which has some direct effects on Costco. Since Costco pays a wage higher than the industry average, increases in unit labor costs in the U.S is going to lower Costco’s profitability.

Physical environment

Unpredictable natural calamities such as Hurricanes can lower sales opportunities. According to the USA Today (2013) sales opportunities emerge towards the end of the calamity. Natural calamities affect warehouse operations because they bring blackouts, and roadblocks.

Implications, Threats, and Opportunities of GFA

From the analysis, it is clear that Costco is faced with two major threats; physical calamities and increasing labor costs. These two has serious impacts on profitability. To mitigate these two risks, Costco should put more emphasis on the opportunities.

The threat of new entrants is very low because there are very many barriers of to the market. There is an increased competitive rivalry in the domestic market making it difficult for new entrants to the market.

Substitutes

The threat of substitutes is very high because Costco offer a limited selection of brands and services.

Bargaining power of suppliers

The bargaining power for suppliers is limited, which is a great opportunity for Costco. The company has established partnerships with merchandise sellers, and purchases products directly from manufacturers.

Bargaining power of buyers

Costco buyers have a very high bargaining power because of increased rivalry in the retail industry. This is another threat. On the other hand, the firm operates ‘members only’ and‘no frill warehouses’, thus creating another barrier to consumers.

Competitive rivalry

The competitive rivalry among competitors is very high. Immediate Costco’s competitors are Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club, Sears, and Target Corporation, which offer similar products.

Implications, Threats, and Opportunities of Porter’s Five Forces

From the above analysis, it can be noted that Costco is faced with two major threats, competitive rivalry and very high consumer bargaining power. Again, Costco’s should invest a lot to mitigate these risks.

Customized Value Chain of Activities in Table Form

Table 1: Value Chain Analysis

Business Process Costco Wal-Mart Sam’s Club Target Corporation

Management Its organizational structure is in line with Level 3 Culture type(9/10) Weakness Weakness

R&D Costco pursues innovative technologies and private labeling as a way of creating value(7/10) Weakness Weakness

HR Has the best strategy in hiring and retaining employees(9/10) Weakness Weakness

Procurement Has large single order purchases. Costco has partnered with over merchandisers of over 4000 products(8/10) Weakness Weakness

Threats include increasing healthcare costs, foreign exchange instability, slow growth in developed economies, and low barriers to entry in global economies. Costco has an Action Plan to mitigate the threats by strengthening its financial position through operational efficiency and use of new technologies.

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